| Author | Message | ||
| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 277 Registered: 6-2005 |
Susan, in response to your post on "why are we afraid of emotion thread". I so remember the absolute joy and wonder with that song, Just as I am, at alter calls, and responding to the call of Jesus, (several times) and the truth in the words to that song. The pain that followed weeks and months or a couple of years later, to discover that there was "more" to the story, more things I needed to do, more behaviors to change, more expectations to live up to, more rules to follow etc etc. I had the joy of salvation, the gospel of grace, just sucked out of me in a legalistic environment. It reminds me of my clients--they go to court for various criminal charges, and end up getting probation. They are ecstatic, believing they got off easy. They think they are pardoned. They later find out that they are not pardoned. They have been convicted. Their sentence is probated, or suspended, but they are not home free. THey must do 280 hours of community service, they must check in weekly with probation, they must pay probation and court fines. They must come to counseling 2-3 times a week. They may have to go to DUI school or parenting classes etc. They mess up one time, even a traffic ticket, and they face serving their whole "probabted" sentence in jail. The shame remains on public record for anyone to see, and follows them. Oh the parallels there are incredible. Thank you for that, I will use the illustration with my clients. Grace is grace. Grace is mercy, but especially Grace is unmerited Pardon. Complete pardon. Covered by the blood pardon, blotted out pardon, The record is erased pardon. The consequences paid in full by the death of Jesus. Im so inspired by this, thank you for bringing me back to the centrality of the cross, the joy and peace I experienced when I comprehended grace and the finished work of CHrist on the cross on my behalf. I have been wondering how to approach those still stuck in a probation based religion. Im truly inspired. We can debate and argue doctrine with others till we are blue. But the simple Gospel, the amazing Good News, is life changing and life giving in itself. Lori 4excape@bellsouth.net | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 594 Registered: 8-2004  |
Awesome insights!!! Wow! God is so good! Mary | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4433 Registered: 12-2003  |
Lori, great insights! I find myself also going back to Jesus and the cross when I get sidetracked with doctrinal arguments. I read recently a paper on a theological issue by a respected theologian. It was well-written, a scholarly work showing how God is consistent from beginning to endóyet it left me cold and even restless. I realized, as I neared the end, that even if we attempt to explain how God works by focusing on His promises and his faithfulness to complete what he starts, we STILL miss the point if we don't focus on Jesus as the core of all reality. We can talk ABOUT God without experiencing Himóand we can only experience Him through accepting the blood of Jesus that opens the new, living way to the Father. Absolutely everything becomes real when we are in Him. Outside of Him, all we have is theories. Colleen | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 237 Registered: 4-2005  |
The nature of faith is to be satisfied with all that God is for us in Jesus. It has been said that theologians are something like file drawers filled with files of knowledge. I can usually get a feel of the theologians personal walk with God by the tone and language he uses with respect to the gospel, it's beauty, the conviction of sin, intimacy in his walk with the Lord. When I am convinced that the theologian whose work I am reading truly loves the Lord with all his heart, I relax and my confidence in his arguments increases ten fold. Concepts about God, as high and holy as they might be, always will remain mear concepts "about" God. They are never God Himself. The clearest realization of the reality of God springs from knowing those facts about Him that He Himself has told us in Holy Scripture revealed to our understanding and consciousness by the working of the Holy Spirit. "Lord, it is my chief complaint That my love is weak and faint; Yet I love thee, and adore; O for grace to love thee more!" ~~~ William Cowper | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4441 Registered: 12-2003 |
You said that so well, Jess! Colleen | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 693 Registered: 7-2004 |
Hello Jess, I love how your thoughts are always so right on and so soothing to my soul. I have missed hearing from you and Bonnie Luv. I lost your email address. Did I send you my new address? If you need to be updated, Colleen is in the know (as always, thanks for helping Ms. Tinker!) Denise | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 239 Registered: 4-2005 |
Denise, Are you the lost lamb or coin being found? :c) I've given my e-mail address to Colleen. Expect to hear from you. My postal letter to the address you listed for Missoula was never answered. Have you attempted to contact Dori Jenkins yet? God bless, Jess | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 1457 Registered: 10-2004  |
I recently came across the following statement from Seventh-day Adventists Believe..., from the chapter on "The Law of God." Under "The Purpose of the Law," they give the following as one of its purposes:
The blatant, forthright denial of the Gospel is amazing. Notice also that they make it clear that perfect obedience is necessary for salvation! Then, later on in the same chapter, they make such disingenuous statements as, "Salvation is a gift that comes by grace through faith, not by works of the law (Eph. 2:8)." And: "People cannot earn salvation by their good works. Obedience is the fruitage of salvation in Christ." Jeremy | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4477 Registered: 12-2003 |
Jeremy, thank you for sharing that quote. You are right: this is a blatant statement showing the difference between living by the Spirit and living from a position of functioning from "the flesh" and tryingówith divine helpóto perfect one's character. Colleen |
